3. I spoke to 600 students about being brave instead of being bullies.

How do these three things relate? Well if you google “American Blogger”, you’ll see that this trailer has not only gone viral, but stirred up A LOT of criticism. Like, a lot. People are not happy about all kinds of things that are not even worth repeating, but feel free to read a few articles and you’ll see.

I get that we don’t all have to like the same things and feel similarily about important issues, but not agreeing with someone and just being downright mean are two different things. One is respectful and the other is bullying. One requires courage and the other – cowardice.

It takes absolutely NO COURAGE to be a jerk.

I’m all for people voicing their opinions, but just because you have an opinion and a computer doesn’t give you license to be disrespectful, mean and judgemental. And sometimes it’s worth it to just keep your nasty opinions to yourself.

I feel like gathering all the critics of this trailer together in a room, and sharing with them the words I shared with those students about being brave instead of being a bully. I want to tell them that at the root of all their negativity, is fear. Insecurity. A lack of confidence in themselves.

I want to remind them that they are loved and valued by God and if they could grasp the truth of that, even just a little bit, they’d be able to show that love and respect to others, even if they disagree with them.

I want them to know that the people they are raking over the coals are people too.

But more than anything else, I want Casey and Chris and anyone else who has ever been bullied to remember that the cowardly lies being spoken and written about them are just that – lies. They come from a place of fear and hold no weight in the light of God’s love. Perfect love casts out fear and God is love. He is for you, not against you. It’s HIS love that makes us brave.

So this one is for you – all of you who have ever been bullied, for all of you who’ve been the bully, and for all of the ones who watch on the side lines and just don’t kow what to say.

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5 thoughts on “Mean Isn’t Brave”

Sorry but, bullying is when someone attacks another for undeserved reasons. No one is bullying the creators of the American Bloggers documentary. We are merely stating the FACT that America is not young and white only. The creators of this documentary have pretty much told those of us who are different whether it is: black, asian, latino, male, plus size, single mothers, etc that we are not what America is about. Who is bullying who now? I am not insecure, I love me. I love the circle of friends I have who are a broad representation of America. Actually, had the creators of this documentary hadn’t entitled it, American Blogger but, some other name like “Our Blogging Friends” or “Our American Blogging Friends” there probably wouldn’t be any backlash.

I actually agree with you that the title wasn’t, in my opinion, the best choice for this film. However, what I’m referring to ISN’T my opinion or anyone else’s. I’m talking about those who have called Chris’s character into question, made personal attacks, and been generally rude, snarky and mean. It’s good to have an opinion and express it. It takes away from the crediblity of that opinion when it is not commuincated with kindness and respect.

I was actually quite surprised by all the negativity about American Blogger. I mean there always will be with anything, but still, I was a bit shocked. Thanks for always encouraging me to be brave! Love your heart girl

I got attacked for defending the trailer on a random facebook feed! Girls literally saying that they weren’t jealous, that I was not getting what they were saying blah blah…Well when you say mean and hurtful things like women can’t be blonde and beautiful or have nice homes that just sounds bitchy to me. A reason to complain. A reason to sink claws into those we actually do not know in person.